Each holiday season, Bolsa Chica State Beach in Huntington Beach hosts Christmas at the Beach — a free, family-friendly celebration right on the sand. Its signature moment is pure Surf City: instead of a sleigh, Santa arrives by jet ski, escorted by lifeguard “elves,” for seaside photos. Add beach games, crafts, and an after-dark holiday movie under the Orange County sky, and it’s a holiday outing you won’t find inland.
Christmas at the Beach is a free community event hosted at Bolsa Chica State Beach, organized with the state-beach lifeguards. The day leans all the way into its coastal setting: Santa makes his entrance not by sleigh but by watercraft — arriving on a jet ski, escorted to shore by lifeguard “elves” for photos with families on the sand. Around the main event are family-friendly activities — beach games, crafts, a bounce house, and a holiday sing-along among them — and the evening can cap off with an outdoor screening of a holiday short film after sunset. The specific activities vary from year to year, but the watercraft Santa arrival is the distinctive, recurring heart of it. As an outdoor event at the shoreline, it’s a quintessential Southern California take on the holidays.
Its signature is the arrival of Santa by jet ski — escorted to shore by lifeguard “elves” for photos on the sand. It’s a beachfront holiday celebration at Bolsa Chica State Beach, complete with family games, crafts, and (some years) an after-dark holiday movie.
At Bolsa Chica State Beach along Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach (92649), Orange County — the long coastal stretch backed by the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve wetlands, on the north end of “Surf City USA.”
The event itself is free. You’ll just want to budget for California State Parks beach parking at the Bolsa Chica lots, or find parking along PCH where available.
Yes — it’s designed as a family event, with beach games, crafts, and Santa photos on the sand. Bring layers and beach-friendly shoes, and keep little ones close near the water.
It’s a December tradition, but the exact date and lineup change each year. Confirm the current details with Bolsa Chica State Beach or the event organizer before planning your trip.
Bolsa Chica State Beach is a long, flat stretch of coastline running along Pacific Coast Highway on the northern end of Huntington Beach — “Surf City USA” — in Orange County. Backed by the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, a protected coastal wetland known for its birdlife, the beach is a popular spot for surfing, beach fire rings, biking the coastal trail, and family beach days. Its wide, gentle sand and oceanfront setting make it a natural stage for a holiday gathering at the water’s edge.
Southern California’s holiday lights and festive outings are pure magic — but nothing compares to Santa Claus himself stepping through your own front door. House of Kringle brings a real-bearded, professionally trained Santa to homes and gatherings across SoCal for an intimate live visit your family will treasure for years.
Check Availability
Have a date in mind? Tell us when and where, and we’ll let you know whether Santa is open. House of Kringle brings a real-bearded Santa Claus to Live Visits and Group Experiences across Southern California, and December fills quickly, so the sooner you check, the better your odds of locking in your first choice.
This is a quick availability check, not a booking. Nothing is reserved and nothing is owed until we’ve confirmed your date and you’ve placed your retainer.
